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| Home : About Breckland : Breckland Wildlife : Invertebrates : Coleoptera | ||||
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BRECKLAND COLEOPTERA |
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History Historically, Breckland was lumped together with other heathland regions and dismissed by many coleopterists as being a poor hunting ground for beetles. While heathland may not appear to hold the number of beetle species seen in other habitats, coleopterists now realize the importance of heathland as a habitat for beetles. It contains many nationally important species, while Breckland in particular additionally supports some species with a normally coastal distribution. There are populations of other important beetle species within Breckland that are not necessarily associated with heathland habitats. The opening up of the Stanford Army Training Area to coleopterists has revealed important populations of aquatic species, such as Bidessus unistriatus, in the many pingos, meres and shell craters. As a consequence of his visit to the Suffolk Brecks, Morley (1897) described Suffolk as being 'one of the most prolific of English counties' and both Brandon and Barton Mills were recognized as being important sites for beetles. With the development of forest planting and agricultural use, much of the traditional heathland habitat has been lost and the majority of remaining habitat us contained within nature reserves. For example, while a large area of 'inland dune' habitat was lost to the building of the USAF base a Lakenheath, some remains at the Wangford Warren reserve in Suffolk. Even within the boundaries of Thetford Forest Park, there are many non-afforested areas that remain of considerable importance for beetle species listed as 'nationally notable' as Red Data Book species. |
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Species Welch (1998) records that 'approximately 1,700 species of Coleoptera have been recorded from within Breckland', although some have not been recorded this century and others are now thought to be nationally extinct. Importantly, some 460 of these species are included in the Red Data Book and Nationally Notable categories. In addition to the Carabids, Breckland is also notable for the presence of many other beetle species, particularly these aquatic species found within the Stanford Army Training Area. A number of important weevil species occur within Breckland, including Ceutorhynchus hirtulus, Gymnetron collinum and G. linariae. The scarabaeid Diasticus vulneratus is unique to Breckland, typically collected from Rabbit burrows, while the Minotaur Beetle Typhaeus typhoeus is also associated with Rabbits, burying rabbit droppings as food for its larvae. Another fascinating species, the Flea Beetle Psylliodes sophiae, is probably now confined to the Brecks, occurring on Flixweed Descurainia sophia in mid to late summer. |
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| Last updated: 09 February 2003 14:10 | ||||